08/17/2026
Friends, family, and foes...
After nearly 23 years at The Madness, it's time for me to start a new story arc. Every hero gets a new creative team eventually, and this is mine.
When my Comic Madness story arc started, I only knew the heavy hittersโฆ Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, and Hulk. Somewhere along the way, I picked up enough knowledge to identify the occasional obscure character (looking at you, Rhino pen), survive the guys' pop quizzes, and somehow pull comic trivia out of nowhere that even surprised me.
The biggest surprise, though, wasn't everything I learned about comics. It was the incredible community that is found within the shop.
The relationships I've built here have always been the real superpower of The Madness. Whether you came in every Wednesday for new books, hunted back issues, debated who's stronger, spoiled movies for me, or just stopped by to talk, you've made this little comic shop feel like so much more than a place to work. Dare I say... a home.
Over the years, some of you have watched me grow up. Some of us grew up together. I've even watched some of you grow up. Together, we've celebrated birthdays, graduations, marriages, kids, losses, victories, and all the crossover events life throws at us. Youโve even heard the evolution of my nicknames over the years from Sq**rt to MJ, Midge, and Wadeโs personal favorite.. DF.
My WCM story arc was originally only planned to be an after-school job. However, every great comic eventually reaches the end of the arc.
I'll still be there to smile and say hello, tell you there are far worse hobbies to have, and pretend I heard a single word you said to me.
As I begin my next adventure, this chapter comes to a close.
A special thank you to:
Wade and Brandi, for taking a chance on teenage meโand for not firing me after my first mistake, when I sent an international package the slowest way possible. It was a Christmas present. It was mid-November. It was supposed to take weeks to arrive.
Spoiler: It arrived two days before Christmas like a true Madness Miracle.
To my co workers past and present.. thanks for the laughs.. and them buns.
But mostly, to you guys.
Thank you for laughing with me about how I've worked here for so long and don't actually read the comics, how the last superhero movie I watched was Iron Man 2, and how "watch all the superhero movies" has somehow become my New Year's resolution every year.
Thank you for the conversations, the laughs, the stories, the memories, and for making The Madness feel like home.
So this isn't "The End."
It's more like...
See you less...
๐Mary Jane
PS
You didnโt think I didnโt bring a part of you all with me, did you?
